Chitosan
is derived from a natural product that is
obtained from biomass: chitin, which is
particularly abundant in the shells of
crustaceans.
Chitin is
a biopolymer of high molecular weight. It is
nontoxic and biodegradable. Next to cellulose,
it is the most common polysaccharide found in
nature. Like cellulose, chitin is a fibre, but
it has outstanding chemical and biological
properties that can be used in a large number of
industrial and medical applications.
PROPERTIES
Biocompatibility
Chitin
and chitosan are natural biopolymers. They have
no antigenicproperties, and thus are perfectly
compatible with living tissue. Their
antithrombogenic and hemostatic properties make
them very suitable for use in all fields of
biology.
Cicatrizant
Chitosan
forms films that are permeable to air. It
facilitates cellular regeneration while
protecting tissue from microbe attack. In
addition, chitosan has been found to have a
biostimulant effect on the regeneration of
tissue. This property has allowed it to be used
in making an artificial skin for skin grafts on
high degree burns and in surgical applications
such as chitin suture thread.
Anticholesterolemic agent
Chitosan
can trap lipids at their insolubilization pH in
the digestive tract. Administered to rats,
chitosan considerably reduces the level of
cholesterol in the blood.
Chelation agent
Chitin
and its derivatives are remarkable chelation
agents. Chitosan is used for a wide range of
applications: as a chromatography medium, or for
trapping heavy metals, or for water
treatment.
Biodegradable
Chitin
and chitosan are biodegradable biopolymers.
Enzymes - chitinase and chitosanase - break them
down into oligopolymers that are then dealt with
by the metabolism.
USES OF
CHITOSAN
